The US President Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with Tariff Warnings
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, warning that trade talks could be halted as attempts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a new round of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said another government spokesperson.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump implied that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.
He stated, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Historic Frontier Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.
International news agency contributed to this report.
